The Liberal Baby Bust

Posted on Mar 15, 2006

A population expert, writing in USA Today, highlights a little-known demographic trend: Progressives are much less likely to have children than conservatives.

This “augers a far more conservative future,” he writes, “one in which patriarchy and other traditional values make a comeback, if only by default.”

USA Today:

What’s the difference between Seattle and Salt Lake City? There are many differences, of course, but here’s one you might not know. In Seattle, there are nearly 45% more dogs than children. In Salt Lake City, there are nearly 19% more kids than dogs.

This curious fact might at first seem trivial, but it reflects a much broader and little-noticed demographic trend that has deep implications for the future of global culture and politics. It’s not that people in a progressive city such as Seattle are so much fonder of dogs than are people in a conservative city such as Salt Lake City. It’s that progressives are so much less likely to have children.